CHEVY CHASE, Md. — The family of an American college student killed in Egypt during violent protests says their son cared passionately about the Middle East and was in the country to teach English to children and to improve his own Arabic.

The State Department says Andrew Pochter, of Chevy Chase, Md., was killed Friday in Alexandria during clashes between government supporters and opponents. His family said in a statement yesterday that he was stabbed by a protester while observing the demonstrations.

“He had studied in the region, loved the culture and planned to live and work there in the pursuit of peace and understanding,” the statement said.

Pochter, 21, spent his spring semester studying in Amman, Jordan, as part of the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program and was teaching in Egypt before a fall return to Kenyon College in Ohio. He majored in religious studies.